Identity Protection

Education is Your Best Weapon

This page was created to help keep your information safe against hackers, identity thieves, and fraudsters. Make sure you bookmark it, as we will keep it updated with the latest information, including new and emerging threats. Here are some important things to watch out for:

Phishing

“Phishing e-mails” are sent with the purpose of fraudulently obtaining your personal identification and account information, or luring you into downloading malicious software. The sophistication of these scams continues to increase all the time, so it's more important than ever to be careful about how and when you choose to share sensitive information like account numbers, passwords, or personal information.

Here are some common themes to phishing e-mails so that you can better identify them and protect yourself:

• Any e-mail with an urgent request for personal or financial information should be treated with caution. Discover Card will never send an e-mail asking you to reply with your account or personal information.
• Phishers often include scary, false statements designed to get you to provide information immediately.
• They typically request usernames, passwords, date of birth, social security number, credit card numbers or other personal information. Whereas, most legitimate companies will never request that you send sensitive information via e-mail.
• Links included in an instant message, chat, or an e-mail might link to another site than they are being masked as. Holding your mouse over a link without clicking it should prompt a small window to come up next to the link. That window contains the actual URL you would be directed to if you clicked the link. If that URL does not appear to match the link representing it, never click on it, as this could initiate virus installations.

Identity Theft

Identity theft happens when someone uses your name or personal information to commit financial fraud. If you've fallen victim to a phishing scheme, you need to be aware of your increased risk of identity theft.

If someone steals your Discover Card account information, remember that $0 Fraud Liability will always cover you. Along with protecting you against fraudulent charges, Discover Card would like to offer some tips and tools to help protect your information and your credit rating:

Protecting Yourself: Tips from Discover

• Shred Confidential Documents
  Prevent thieves from stealing personal information by shredding sensitive documents before you trash them.
• Send Sensitive Mail at a Public Mailbox
  Use the big, blue mailbox at the corner or take a trip to the post office to send payments or other sensitive mail. Information theft happens frequently from home mailboxes.
  
  Keep your personal information in a safe place. Don't carry your birth certificate, social security card or passport with you unless you need to use it. Always make copies of the originals and keep them in a safe place. If you lose such documents, contact the appropriate government office immediately.
• Send Sensitive Information Only Through a Secure Server
  When sending private information, make sure to look for a closed lock at the bottom of your browser window. If you're using a Mac and browsing the web with Safari, the lock should appear in the upper-right hand side of your browser window. If you are unsure that a secure Web site is legitimate, check the certificate by clicking on the lock.
• Review Financial Statements Regularly
  Check your credit card and bank statements each month for any suspicious activity. Request and check your credit report at least once a year for mistakes or fraudulent use. If you come across any suspicious activity on your accounts, contact your financial institution immediately. If you notice suspicious activity on your Discover Card account, call 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683) immediately.
• Stay Informed About the Latest News and Scams.
  All security thefts aren't created equally. If someone steals your personal information, be sure to contact the credit bureaus to prevent identity theft or illegal use of your credit.